The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Recipe: Jelly Doughnuts (Paczki)

2 Cups flour 1/2 cup sugar
2 cups boiling milk 1/2 cup vanilla bean, ground
3 1/2 oz. yeast 1-2 tsp. grated orange rind
1/4 cup lukewarm milk 3/4 lb. butter, melted
6 egg yolks flour, jam, deep fat for
frying
Sift 1 cup flour into boiling milk, remove from heat, and beat
until smooth. Cool. Dissolve yeast in the 1/4 cup mild. Add to
flour mixture, stir, and let stand half hour. Cream egg yolks and
sugar, add vanilla and orange rind and add to dough when it begins
to rise. Add remaining flour and butter, and work with fingers
until dough begins to stand away from the hands. Let stand until
it has risen to about twice its bulk. Roll out on floured board to
thickness of 5/8 in. and cut out circles with a glass or pastry
cutter. Place a teaspoon of jam in center of half circles (using
only fruit, not syrup), cover with remaining circles, press edges
together, and let stand in warm place to rise again. Fry a few at
a time in deep fat, taking care not to heat the fat so much that
the dough will burn. Drain and serve dusted with confectioner's
sugar.

Submitter comment: These doughnuts are a yearly tradition. The day before lent in
the Polish culture is called Paczki Day and these doughnuts are
made at home and eaten at home and given to relatives and friends.
As lent begins sweets and meat are not to be eaten until Easter.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAMTRAMCK